JP2001208615A - Temperature recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature recording system capable of determining the limit of use of temperature recorders easily and accurately. SOLUTION: A personal computer 1 is constructed of; the temperature recorders each equipped with a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of an object of recording, a clocking means, a recording means for recording, correspondingly to time, temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means, a recording-side transmitting/receiving means for transferring data from/to the exterior, and a recording-side power supply; a button reader 2 equipped with housing parts 11 to which the temperature recorders are removaly connected; a CRT display 6 and a main control means. The main control means of the personal computer 1 transfers data from/to the temperature recorders connected to the housing means 11 via respective transmitting/ receiving means and displays information on the CRT display 6 enabling the service life of the power supply to be determined based on the data read from the temperature recorders.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature recording system for detecting and recording and managing the temperature of a monitoring target such as food.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to recent advances in distribution systems, transportation of refrigerated or frozen foods has become active, but until now, attention has not been paid to changes in the temperature of foods being transported. This is the actual situation. Therefore, for example, when the frozen food is thawed while transporting the frozen food in a freezer truck and then frozen again, it is difficult to grasp the fact after the fact.

[0003] In recent years, sterilization infection by cooked foods has been regarded as a problem, and the temperature control of foods from cooking to packaging, refrigeration and freezing has been regarded as important. On the other hand,
As in the case of space foods, temperature and time are important for food temperature control (HACCP developed by NASA)
(Hazard Analysis Critical
Con-control Point) method).

Therefore, a temperature recording device for detecting and recording the history of temperature change over time during the transportation or storage of such food or during cooking has been proposed. This temperature recording device uses a built-in battery as a power source, and is small and capable of measuring temperature over a long period of time, so by storing it in a food container or packing container,
By taking out the food after transporting the food or after cooking, and outputting the data, the history of the temperature change of the food can be grasped.

[0005]

In such a temperature recording device, power is consumed mainly at the time of A / D conversion of the measured temperature. The amount of stored electricity is also decreasing. However, conventionally, there was no means for grasping the life of the built-in battery, so that it was difficult to determine the usage limit of the temperature recording device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem, and provides a temperature recording system capable of easily and accurately determining the limit of use of a temperature recording device.

[0007]

That is, a temperature recording system according to the present invention relates to a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of a recording object, a clock means, and the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means corresponding to the time. Recording means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside, a temperature recording device including a recording-side power supply, and a connection portion to which the temperature recording device is detachably connected. And a main control unit having a display unit and a main control unit. The main control unit of the main control unit includes a temperature recording unit connected to the connection unit via each transmission / reception unit. It is characterized by transmitting and receiving data to and from the device, and displaying on the display means information capable of determining the life of the recording-side power supply from the data read from the temperature recording device.

The temperature recording system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the main control means displays the number of times of temperature measurement performed by the temperature recording device on the display means.

The temperature recording system according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the main control means identifiably displays that the life of the recording-side power supply is nearing the end.

In a temperature recording system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above inventions, the main control means identifiably indicates that the temperature recording device has measured a temperature that may have a bad influence on the life of the recording-side power supply. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature recording system according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the temperature recording device includes a temperature detecting means, a recording side storing means for holding its own ID code, a clock means, It is characterized by being configured to house the side transmitting / receiving means, the recording means, and the recording side power supply.

According to the present invention, the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording object, the clock means, the recording means for recording the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means in accordance with the time, and the external A recording-side transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting and receiving data between the recording-side transmitting / receiving unit and a recording-side power supply; a reading-side transmitting / receiving unit including a connection unit to which the temperature recording device is detachably connected; a display unit; Since the temperature recording system is constructed from the main control device having the main control means and the temperature recording device, the temperature recording device is connected to the connection portion of the reading-side transmission / reception means, thereby detecting and recording the temperature of the recording target The main controller can take in the data without any trouble and perform display and management.

[0013] This makes it possible to smoothly record and manage the temperature of foods and the like in each process such as cooking, processing, transportation, and storage. In particular, since the main control means displays on the display means information that can determine the life of the recording-side power supply from data read from the temperature recording apparatus, the life of the recording-side power supply can be determined to facilitate use of the temperature recording apparatus. It will be possible to recognize it.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to this, the main control means displays the number of temperature measurements executed by the temperature recording device on the display means. Can be determined. This eliminates the need to change the design of the temperature recording device, such as adding extra means for converting the amount of charge stored in the recording-side power supply into data.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the main control means is configured to identifiably display that the life of the recording-side power supply is approaching the end, so that the user can control the temperature. It becomes possible to more clearly recognize that the recording device is approaching the usage limit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the main control means identifiably displays that the temperature recording device has measured the temperature at which there is a risk of adversely affecting the life of the recording-side power supply. Informs the user that self-discharge of the recording-side power supply has significantly shortened the service life, such as being placed in a high temperature environment, and reminds the user that the use limit may be shortened. It becomes possible.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, for example, a temperature recording system used when a low-temperature article is delivered by a low-temperature delivery vehicle in a convenience store chain will be described as an example.
In this case, the system is constructed from a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) 1 as a main control device, a button-type temperature memory (hereinafter referred to as a cool memory) 3 as a temperature recording device, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal computer 1 and a button reader 2 serving as a reading side transmitting / receiving means, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the personal computer 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cool memory 3, and FIG.
Shows functional block diagrams of the cool memory 3. In FIG. 1, a personal computer 1 has a main body provided with a keyboard 4 and a mouse 9 (FIG. 2) as input means and a CRT display 6 as display means.

A signal line 17 is connected to the personal computer 1 by a connector. The button reader 2 is connected to the signal line 17 by a coupler. The button reader 2 has a plurality of (four in the embodiment) storage portions 11... As connection portions for detachably storing and connecting a cool memory 3 described later. In the button reader 2 of the embodiment, one portion is used as a connection portion of the personal computer 1,
Three cool memories 3 can be mounted at a time.

Next, in FIG. 2, the personal computer 1 is, for example, a personal computer installed at a delivery headquarters of a convenience store chain, and a CP as a main control means.
A U (microcomputer) 31, a memory 32 including a RAM or the like, and a hard disk 7 (this may be a flash memory or the like, and both the memory 32 and the hard disk 7 are read-side storage means);
An I / O interface 33 and a bus I / O interface 34 as a reading side transmission / reception unit are provided. The CRT display 6, keyboard 4, and mouse 9 are connected to an I / O interface 33.

The bus I / O interface 34 is connected to the signal line 17 and exchanges data with the button reader 2 via the signal line 17. The hard disk 7 of the personal computer 1 includes a protocol for performing data communication with the button reader 2 (actually, a cool memory 3 to be described later), software for displaying the data on the CRT display 6, and software for alarm confirmation. A program and a control program such as software for identifying the program are set.

Next, the cool memory 3 attached to the button reader 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The cool memory 3 is provided with a case 3A having a button battery shape as shown in FIG. 3, inside the case 3A, an interface 132 serving as a recording-side transmitting / receiving means, and an ID section holding its own ID code (recording-side storage means). 133, memory control unit 136, memories 137, 138, transmitter 13
9, a clock control unit 141 and its register 142, a temperature alarm memory 143, a histogram memory 144, a temperature history memory 146 (recording means is constructed by these), a battery (lithium battery) 147 as a recording side power supply, a measurement control unit 148 and a sensor unit (temperature detecting means) 149 are incorporated.

The cool memory 3 is put into a container (recording target) storing refrigerated food such as a lunch box or a beverage delivered to a convenience store, and is used for detecting and recording the temperature of the food. . in this case,
The measurement control unit 148 measures the food temperature (the temperature in the container) at a predetermined sampling cycle (measurement interval) by the sensor unit 149. In this case, the measurement control unit 148 performs A / D conversion of analog data from the sensor unit 149 to obtain temperature data. Then, the measurement control unit 148 transmits the temperature data thus measured to the clock control unit 141.
It is recorded in three different formats together with the time data sent from.

That is, the measurement control unit 148 writes the temperature data into the temperature history memory 146. This temperature history memory 1
The time data calculated from the measurement start date and time and the measurement interval is added to the temperature data in 46 when the personal computer 1 reads the data from the cool memory 3 as described later. Further, the measurement control unit 148 divides the food temperature into zones (for example, a zone of 0 ° C. or lower, a zone of 0 ° C. to + 5 ° C., a zone of + 5 ° C. to + 10 ° C., and a zone of + 10 ° C. to + 15 ° C.).
Zones, zones of + 20 ° C. or higher), and the measured temperature data is distributed to each zone and counted.
A histogram is created and written to the histogram memory 144.

In this case, for example, if the food temperature has become 0 ° C. or less once, the zone below 0 ° C. is set to 1 and 0 ° C.
If it was 100 times that the temperature was + 5 ° C., the zone of 0 ° C. to + 5 ° C. is set to 100.
00, and if it was + 10 ° C. to + 15 ° C. ten times, the zone of + 10 ° C. to + 15 ° C. is set to 10, and + 20 ° C.
If this is the case once, the zone at + 20 ° C. or higher is defined as 1.

The temperature alarm memory 143 records temperature alarm data. In this case, the temperature alarm includes a high-temperature alarm when the temperature exceeds the upper limit of the temperature alarm and a low-temperature alarm when the temperature falls below the lower limit of the temperature alarm, as will be described later. The date and time are recorded.

When the food is delivered to the store, the cool memory 3 is removed from the container and the button reader 2
To be stored in the storage section 11. As a result, the cool memory 3 is connected to the signal line 17 so that data can be transmitted and received to and from the personal computer 1.

Here, an ID code of the cool memory 3 itself and identification data indicating that the memory is the cool memory 3 are written in the ID section 133 incorporated in the cool memory 3, and the memory 138 is communicated with the personal computer 1. A communication protocol and the like for performing data communication are stored. For example, various setting data described later is written in the memory 137. The memory 138 is a memory that can be used by the user.
4 and 146, software for displaying the data in the personal computer 1 may be written in advance, in which case the burden on the personal computer 1 is reduced.

With the above configuration, a procedure for actually reading data and setting data between the personal computer 1 and the cool memory 3 will be described. First, when starting the operation of reading data from the cool memory 3, the personal computer 1
Start the control program. Then, when the icon (not shown) for using the cool memory 3 displayed on the CRT display 6 is clicked with the mouse 9, the CPU 31 displays the status display screen shown in FIG.

Next, each storage section 11 of the button reader 2
Are mounted on the CPU and when the "Search" frame on the status display screen of FIG.
31 is a cool memory 3 connected to the button reader 2.
Scan (search).

This scan operation is performed for each of the cool memories 3.
This is performed by reading out the ID code written in the ID section 133 of. The CPU 31 identifies the connection state of the three cool memories 3... Based on the ID codes collected by scanning, temporarily retains these ID codes in the memory 32, and thereafter uses the ID codes to store the respective cool memories 3.・ ・ Send and receive data to and from. Further, the collected ID codes are listed and displayed in the “Cool memory selection” column of the status display screen of FIG.

When the down arrow button of the "Cool memory selection" section is clicked with the mouse 9, the ID codes of the respective cool memories 3... Which are searched are displayed in a window as shown in FIG. By clicking this ID code, the cool memory 3 for reading and writing data can be selected.

When one of the cool memories 3 connected to the button reader 2 is selected in this manner, the CPU 31 displays the cool memory 3 in the “operating state” frame on the display screen of FIG.
Displays the operating status of. At this time, the CPU 31 polls the selected cool memory 3 and requests transmission of various setting data relating to the operation of the cool memory 3.

The memory control unit 136 of the cool memory 3
The memory 137 in response to the polling from the personal computer 1
Setting data and clock control unit 14 written in the
1 is transmitted to the personal computer 1 by the interface 132 via the signal line 17.

The CPU 31 of the personal computer 1 is a cool memory 3
After temporarily writing the data transmitted from the memory 32 to the memory 32, the operating state of the cool memory 3 is displayed in the “operating state” frame of the state display screen of FIG. In this case, the CPU 31 displays whether the cool memory 3 is currently operating or stopped in the “operating state” column of the “operating state” frame.

In the "remaining standby time" column, the remaining standby time until the temperature measurement is started is displayed, and in the "measurement start time" column, the temperature measurement start date and time are displayed. In the “Measurement interval” column, the interval of temperature measurement (sampling cycle) is displayed. In the “Measurement data number” column, the total number of data measured since the start of the measurement is displayed. The “number of data” column displays the number of data stored in each memory 146.

Further, in the "memory overwrite" column, a setting state of whether new data is overwritten (or not) when the data amount of each memory is saturated is displayed. In other words, when "overwrite" is set, when the data amount becomes full, old data is discarded and new data is written, and when "no" is set, it becomes full. At this point, the cool memory 3 stops the recording operation. In the "memory overwrite occurrence" column, it is displayed whether or not the data in each memory has been overwritten during the measurement (presence / absence).

Further, the upper limit temperature of the temperature alarm is displayed in the "temperature alarm upper limit" column, and the lower limit temperature of the temperature alarm is displayed in the "temperature alarm lower limit" column. In the “current time” column, the time data (date and time) held by the clock control unit 141 of the cool memory 3 is displayed.
The “Total measurement count” column displays the total number of temperature measurements up to the present.

Here, in the temperature measurement by the cool memory 3, the work that consumes the most power is the A / D conversion in the measurement control unit 148. Therefore, the life of the battery 147 can be determined from the total number of measurements.

That is, assuming that the life of the battery 147 is defined as, for example, 500,000 times in terms of measurable times (actually, it can be used more times).
Depending on whether the total number of measurements displayed in the "total measurement count" column of the RT display 6 is close to or far from this 500,000 times, it is possible to determine how long the cool memory 3 can be used (use limit) later. it can.

When the total number of measurements exceeds, eg, 490,000, the CPU 31 displays the number in the “Total measurement count” column in yellow, for example, and further displays
If the number exceeds 10,000 times, the number is displayed in red, for example, on the CRT.
It is displayed on the display 6. This allows the user to reliably and accurately determine that the life of the battery 147 of the cool memory 3 is nearing the end of its life.

Here, when the cool memory 3 is used in a high temperature environment of, for example, ambient temperature + 50 ° C. or more, the battery 147
Self-discharge may shorten the life. Therefore, the measurement control unit 148 of the cool memory 3
The number of times of the above temperature measurement is written in the memory 138. Then, the CPU 31 stores +5 in the memory 138 of the cool memory 3.
If the number of times of measurement at a temperature of 0 ° C. or more has been written even once, for example, “!” Is displayed adjacent to the number in the “Total measurement count” column.

As a result, the user can accurately recognize that there is a possibility that the cool memory 3 cannot be used for the specified number of 500,000 measurements. It should be noted that other symbols may be used as the display symbols, and the display symbols are not limited to the symbols, and may be identified by display colors. In the “memo” column, predetermined memo contents such as a written measurement point are displayed as described later.

Next, when the “measurement result” frame is clicked on the display screen of FIG. 5, the CPU 31 displays the operation result display screen of FIG. At this time, the CPU 31
And request transmission of the temperature data recorded by the cool memory 3. The memory control unit 136 of the cool memory 3 responds to the polling from the personal computer 1 by the temperature alarm memory 143, the histogram memory 144,
The data in the temperature history memory 146 is transferred to the interface 1
The signal is transmitted to the personal computer 1 via the signal line 17 by the signal 32.

The CPU 31 of the personal computer 1 is a cool memory 3
After temporarily writing the data transmitted from the memory 32 to the memory 32, the data is displayed on the operation result display screen of FIG. In this case, the CPU 31 displays the temperature data in the temperature history memory 146 (the data to which the time stamp is added as described above) numerically in the “temperature data” column, and displays the histogram data in the histogram memory 144 as “temperature distribution”. The data in the temperature alarm memory 143 is also displayed in the alarm column (displayed with the start date and time and the end date and time of high and low temperatures).

In this state, when the "graph" frame in the "temperature data" column is clicked with the mouse 9, the CPU 31
The temperature data graph display screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the T display 6. On this screen, the horizontal axis represents time (5 in the embodiment).
5:18 on May 11 to 5:18 on May 15), the vertical axis is the temperature (in the embodiment, the maximum scale is 30 ° C., the minimum scale is 0 ° C.). It is displayed as line L1. Thereby, the temperature transition of the conveyed food or the like into which the cool memory 3 is put can be grasped.

In the graph display screen, the CPU 31 sets the background color of the high-temperature alarm area above the upper limit of the temperature alarm to red, for example, and sets the background color of the low-temperature alarm area below the lower temperature alarm to blue, for example. This makes it possible to easily identify a time zone in which the temperature exceeds the upper and lower limits of the temperature alarm in the course of the temperature transition.

Next, when the “vertical axis change” frame on the display screen of FIG. 9 is clicked, the CPU 31 displays the vertical axis change screen of FIG. 10 on the CRT display 6. On this screen, a display of "change of vertical axis: from where" is made in addition to the screen of FIG. When the mouse 9 is clicked, for example, around 21 ° C. on the screen of FIG. 10, the CPU 31 displays the screen of FIG. 11 on the CRT display 6. In the screen of FIG. 11, a horizontal line L2 is displayed at 21 ° C. on the graph, and a display “change of vertical axis: to what extent” is displayed.

Next, when the user clicks, for example, around 14 degrees on the screen shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 31 displays the screen shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the T display 6. In the screen of FIG. 12, the maximum scale on the vertical axis is displayed as 21 ° C. and the minimum scale is displayed as 14 ° C. Thereby, the temperature of 14 ° C. to the graph shown in FIG.
The range of 21 ° C. is enlarged and displayed. still,
If the user clicks on the frame "Return to initial drawing" in the screen display of FIG. 12, the CPU 31 changes the screen display to a screen similar to that of FIG.
(Shown in 3).

Next, when the “horizontal axis change” frame on the display screen of FIG. 13 is clicked, the CPU 31 displays the horizontal axis change screen of FIG. 14 on the CRT display 6. On this screen, in addition to the screen of FIG. 13, “Change horizontal axis: from where” is displayed. On the screen shown in FIG. 14, for example, when the mouse 9 is clicked in the vicinity of 5:18 on May 13, a short time before C, C
The PU 31 displays the screen of FIG. 15 on the CRT display 6. On the screen of FIG. 15, a vertical line L3 is displayed near the front of May 13 on the graph, and a display of "change of horizontal axis: to what extent" is made.

Next, on the screen of FIG.
If you click near a little before 5:18 on the day, CPU
31 displays the screen of FIG. 16 on the CRT display 6. In the screen of FIG. 16, the left end of the horizontal axis is displayed as 4:30 on May 12, and the right end is displayed as 4:30 on May 14. As a result, the range from 4:30 on May 12 to 4:30 on May 14 in the graph displayed in FIG. 13 (similar to FIG. 9) is enlarged and displayed. Note that FIG.
Clicking on the frame "Return to initial drawing" in the screen display of (3) causes the CPU 31 to return the screen display to a screen similar to that shown in FIG. 9 (shown in FIG. 13).

Next, a "graph" in the "temperature distribution" column of FIG.
When the frame is clicked with the mouse 9, the CPU 31 displays a temperature distribution graph display screen shown in FIG. 17 on the CRT display 6. In this screen, the horizontal axis is temperature (−40 in the embodiment).
° C to + 70 ° C), and the vertical axis indicates the number of times (0 to 200 in the example).
The recorded histogram is displayed in the bar graph of the times. Thereby, the temperature history of the conveyed food or the like into which the cool memory 3 is put can be grasped by the histogram.

Next, when the “vertical axis change” frame on the display screen of FIG. 17 is clicked, the CPU 31 displays the vertical axis change screen of FIG. 18 on the CRT display 6. In this screen, Figure 1
In addition to the screen of FIG. 7, "Change of vertical axis: designation of maximum value position" is displayed. If, for example, the user clicks around 100 times on the screen of FIG. 18, the CPU 31 displays the screen of FIG. 19 on the CRT display 6. In the screen of FIG. 19, the maximum value on the vertical axis is displayed as 100 times (the minimum value is 0 times).
Thus, the bar graph shown in FIG.
The range of 0 times is enlarged and displayed. Note that the CPU 31 returns the screen display to that shown in FIG. 17 by clicking the “Return to Initial Drawing” frame in the screen display of FIG.

As described above, when the temperature data recorded corresponding to the time is displayed on the CRT display 6, an arbitrary range of the graph display can be designated and enlarged, so that the CRT display 6 is small like a mobile personal computer. Even in this case, it is possible to easily confirm and analyze the graphical display of the temperature data recorded for a long period of time, and it becomes extremely convenient especially during the transportation of the low-temperature food. In particular, operability is significantly improved because the range to be enlarged by clicking the mouse 9 and other input operations can be performed.

On the display screen shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 16, or FIG. 19, by specifying an arbitrary range by the same operation, the CPU 31 further enlarges and displays the range. That is, such enlarged display can be executed recursively. However, if the "return to initial screen" frame is clicked with the mouse 9, the screen always returns to the screen of FIG. 9, FIG. 13, or FIG. 17 at one time.

Next, when the “setting” frame is clicked on the display screen of FIG. 5 with the mouse 9, the CPU 31 displays the start setting screen of FIG. 7 on the CRT display 6. At this time, the CPU 31 displays the time data of the cool memory 3 read as described above in the “current time” column of FIG.
This is the time of the clock control unit 141 of the cool memory 3. Further, the time of the personal computer 1 is displayed in the “PC setting time” column.

Then, "Date and time" on the display screen of FIG.
Click the frame of the clock control unit 1 of the cool memory 3
The time of 41 is adjusted to the time of the personal computer 1. Here, since the cool memory 3 is placed in an environment where the temperature changes drastically,
Time data may be out of order due to frequency fluctuations of the oscillator 139 or the like. Therefore, when newly starting the temperature recording, the “current time” and the “PC” displayed on the screen of FIG.
If there is a discrepancy in the “set time”, the time of the cool memory 3 can be adjusted to the time of the personal computer 1 by clicking the frame of “date and time” with the mouse 9.

Also, the "measurement start date and time" on the display screen of FIG.
In the fields, start date and time of temperature measurement are set in year, month, day,
The time can be set in minutes. When the measurement start date and time are set, the CPU 31 displays the standby time from the current time to the start of measurement on the lower side.

Further, in the "measurement interval" column, the interval of temperature measurement can be set in minutes. When this measurement interval is set, the CPU 31 displays a measurement period until the data amount of the memory 146 of the cool memory 3 is saturated on the right of the maximum memory capacity. In the "memory overwrite" column, whether or not to execute memory overwrite as described above can be set by clicking. The total measurement count is also displayed on the right side of the “memory overwrite” column.

In the "temperature alarm" column, the upper limit temperature at which the above-mentioned high temperature alarm is issued and the lower limit temperature at which the low temperature alarm is issued can be set. Further, when the "memo input" field is clicked, predetermined memo contents such as measurement locations can be written as described above.

When all the setting items have been set, the user clicks the “setting end” frame on the display screen of FIG.
When the “setting end” frame is clicked, the CPU 31
The various setting data set in FIG. 7 is transmitted to the signal line 17 via the bus I / O interface 34 together with the ID code of the cool memory 3.

The cool memory 3 has an interface 132
Receives various setting data to which its own ID code is attached by the memory control unit 136,
Write 37. Thereafter, the cool memory 3 operates according to the various setting data.

Here, when distributing low-temperature goods in such a convenience store chain, it is necessary to set the same setting data such as the measurement start date and time and the measurement interval in a plurality of cool memories 3. In such a case, the “batch setting” frame is clicked with the mouse 9 on the display screen of FIG. When this "batch setting" frame is clicked, the CPU 31 transmits various setting data set on the screen above it to all of the previously searched cool memories 3 (here, three).

In this case, the CPU 31
.. Are sequentially attached and various setting data are transmitted to the respective cool memories 3. As a result, the same setting can be collectively performed for a plurality of cool memories 3..., And the setting workability is significantly improved.

In the delivery of such low-temperature articles, the setting contents are often patterned according to, for example, morning, noon, and evening delivery times and delivery distances, and normal, frozen, and refrigerated storage temperatures. In such a case, after the various items are patterned and set on the start setting screen of FIG. 7 as described above, the “memory” frame is clicked with the mouse 9. When the “storage” frame is clicked, the CPU 31 writes the setting contents to the hard disk 7 in a file format. At this time, the file name is also stored.

When the “reference” frame on the display screen of FIG. 7 is clicked, the CPU 31 displays the setting content file name written on the hard disk 7 in the window on the CRT display 6 as described above. Is selected, various setting contents stored in advance are displayed on the display screen of FIG. "Batch setting" in this state
By clicking on the frame or the “setting completed” frame, the setting content stored in advance by the CPU 31 is transmitted to each cool memory 3 as described above. Thereby, the setting workability of the cool memory 3 is further improved.

Next, when the "file" frame is clicked on the display screen of FIG.
The "file output" frame is displayed as shown in (1). Then, when the “file output” frame is clicked, the CPU 31 displays the save screen with the file name shown in FIG. 21 on the CRT display 6. On this screen, enter the file location and file name, and click the “Save” frame.
Saves the temperature data and the alarm data read from the selected cool memory 3 in a file format on the hard disk 7.

Here, when the alarm confirmation software of the personal computer 1 is started, the CPU 31 displays an alarm confirmation dialog "Please set a cool memory" on the CRT display 6 in FIG. In this state, when one cool memory 3 is stored and connected to the storage section 11 of the button reader 2, the CPU 31 automatically polls the cool memory 3 and the temperature alarm memory 1 of the cool memory 3.
Request transmission of the data in 43.

The memory control unit 136 of the cool memory 3
In response to the polling from the personal computer 1, the data in the temperature alarm memory 143 is transmitted to the personal computer 1 through the signal line 17 by the interface 132. The CPU 31 of the personal computer 1 determines whether at least one high or low temperature alarm data exists in the data transmitted from the cool memory 3, that is, the temperature data exceeds the upper limit temperature even once in the cool memory 3, or If there is a history that the temperature has fallen below the lower limit temperature, "abnormal" is displayed on the alarm confirmation dialog of the CRT display 6 together with the ID code (ID number) and the memo of the cool memory 3 as shown in FIG.

If the temperature alarm data does not exist in the temperature alarm memory 143, the CPU 31 displays "normal" in the alarm confirmation dialog. Thereby, the user can easily and quickly confirm that the temperature alarm has occurred in the cool memory 3. Then, the detailed operation result may be confirmed on the operation result display screen.

During a pull-down period, for example, immediately after the start of operation of the low-temperature delivery vehicle, or during loading into the low-temperature delivery vehicle, the surroundings of the cool memory 3 are temporarily, but relatively high ( For example, room temperature). In such a case as well, the data of the temperature alarm is written in the temperature alarm memory 143 in the cool memory 3. However, in the alarm confirmation work as described above, issuing an alarm in such a situation is rather confusing. Become.

Therefore, by setting the time in minutes in the "alarm delay" field on the start setting display screen of FIG. 7, the alarm delay time from the start of measurement and from the occurrence of an abnormality can be set. . That is, this "alarm delay"
For example, 10 minutes in the column (can be set in the range of 1 minute to 10 minutes)
Is set in the memory 32 or the hard disk 7 of the personal computer 1. When the personal computer 1 reads out the data from the cool memory 3 and the data of the temperature warning is written in the temperature warning memory 143 of the cool memory 3, the data exceeds, for example, the upper limit temperature or the lower limit. If the temperature falls below the temperature and returns to the normal range (a temperature range lower than the upper limit temperature and higher than the lower limit temperature) within 10 minutes from the start of the state, the CPU 31 ignores the data of the alarm.

As a result, it is possible to prevent a temperature abnormality or a temporary temperature abnormality during pull-down or loading as described above from being issued in the alarm check operation.

In the embodiment, the alarm delay time is set in the personal computer 1 and the temperature alarm data is ignored. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the alarm delay time may be set in the memory 137 of the cool memory 3. . In this case, when the temperature data in the cool memory 3 exceeds the upper limit temperature or falls below the lower limit temperature and returns to the normal range within 10 minutes from the start of the state, the measurement control of the cool memory 3 is performed. This prevents the unit 148 from writing temperature alarm data to the temperature alarm memory 143.

[0075]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording object, the clock means, and the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means are recorded in correspondence with the time. A recording device including a recording unit, a recording-side transmitting / receiving unit that exchanges data with the outside, a recording-side power supply, and a reading side including a connection unit to which the temperature recording device is detachably connected. Since the temperature recording system is constructed from the transmission / reception means and the main control device including the display means and the main control means, it is detected by connecting the temperature recording device to the connection portion of the reading side transmission / reception means. The main control device can fetch the recorded temperature data of the recording object without any trouble and perform display and management.

As a result, it is possible to smoothly record and manage the temperature of foods and the like in each process such as cooking / processing, transportation, and storage. In particular, since the main control means displays on the display means information that can determine the life of the recording-side power supply from data read from the temperature recording apparatus, the life of the recording-side power supply can be determined to facilitate use of the temperature recording apparatus. It will be possible to recognize it.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to this, the main control means displays the number of temperature measurements performed by the temperature recording device on the display means. Can be determined. This eliminates the need to change the design of the temperature recording device, such as adding extra means for converting the amount of charge stored in the recording-side power supply into data.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the main control means displays the end of the life of the recording-side power supply so as to be identifiable, so that the user can control the temperature. It becomes possible to more clearly recognize that the recording device is approaching the usage limit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the main control means identifiably displays that the temperature recording device has measured the temperature which has a risk of adversely affecting the life of the recording-side power supply. Informs the user that self-discharge of the recording-side power supply has significantly shortened the service life, such as being placed in a high temperature environment, and reminds the user that the use limit may be shortened. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal computer and a button reader as an embodiment of a device constituting a temperature recording system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cool memory.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the cool memory.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a status display screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 6 is another diagram showing a status display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a start setting screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation result display screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen similarly displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen similarly displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a temperature data graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a temperature distribution graph display screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a temperature distribution graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a temperature distribution graph display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 20 is yet another view showing the status display screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a temperature data storage display screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an alarm confirmation screen displayed on a CRT display of a personal computer.

FIG. 23 is another diagram showing an alarm confirmation screen displayed on the CRT display of the personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 personal computer (main control device) 2 button reader (reading side transmitting / receiving means) 3 cool memory (temperature recording device) 4 keyboard (input means) 6 CRT display (display means) 7 hard disk 9 mouse (input means) 11 storage unit (connection) 17) signal line 31 CPU (read-side control means) 32 memory 34 bus I / O interface 132 interface (recording-side transmission / reception means) 136 memory control section 139 oscillator 141 clock control section 143 temperature alarm memory 144 histogram memory 146 temperature history memory 147 Battery (recording side power supply) 149 Sensor unit (temperature detecting means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Isao Shibata 2-5-1-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeichi Kawai 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2F076 BA01 BA18 BD07 BE04 BE06 BE13 BE17 BE19 5C086 AA07 CA30 DA10 EA41

Claims (5)

[Claims] A temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a recording object; a clock means; a recording means for recording the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means in accordance with a time; Temperature recording device having a recording-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data, a recording-side power supply, a reading-side transmitting / receiving means having a connection portion to which the temperature recording device is detachably connected, a display means and a main control means The main control unit of the main control unit transmits and receives data to and from the temperature recording device connected to the connection unit via the transmission / reception units. A temperature recording system for displaying, on the display means, information capable of determining the life of the recording-side power supply from data read from the temperature recording device. 2. The temperature recording system according to claim 1, wherein the main control means displays the number of temperature measurements executed by the temperature recording device on the display means. 3. The temperature recording system according to claim 1, wherein the main control means identifiably displays that the life of the recording-side power supply is approaching the end of life. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main control means identifiably displays that the temperature recording device has measured a temperature at which there is a risk of adversely affecting the life of the recording-side power supply.
The temperature recording system according to claim 2 or 3. 5. A temperature recording device, comprising: a temperature detecting means, a recording side storing means having its own ID code, a clock means, a recording side transmitting / receiving means, a recording means, a recording side power supply, and a temperature detecting means. 5. The temperature recording system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature recording system comprises: